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Communications & Mktg. Officer - Engineering at University of… · Tampa
Job Description
Organizational Summary:
Located on the Tampa campus, the College of Engineering Communications and Marketing Department provides support for six academic departments, 12 major research institutes, faculty, and students in the College of Engineering through a multitude of services including, communications, marketing and branding, multimedia design services, writing, social media, media relations, website development and management, events and conferences planning. In addition to the Associate Director of Communications and Marketing, the department comprises of a Communications & Marketing Officer, and a Social Media & Events Coordinator.
Position Summary:
Reporting to the Director of Marketing and Communications for the College of Engineering, the Communications and Marketing Officer serves as a key contributor to the college’s strategic communication efforts. This role requires strong training and experience in both written and oral communication. Responsibilities include developing editorial content by interviewing faculty, students, and partners; writing news and feature stories; and producing copy and design elements for marketing and promotional materials across print and digital platforms. The position also supports the creation and presentation of content for websites, publications, photography, videography, and other multimedia formats to enhance the college’s visibility and engagement.
Responsibilities
- Editorial Content Production: Identify compelling stories that highlight faculty research, student achievements, industry partnerships, and other initiatives that elevate the visibility of the college. Develop and write high‑quality editorial content, then adapt and distribute it across the college’s website, newsletters, social media channels, and other print and digital platforms to strengthen the college’s brand and engagement.
- Photography & Videography: shoot photo and/or video content and edit to accompany stories for use on the website, social media, and other promotional use. Assignments may also include event coverage, headshots, b-roll, video interviews, and others.
- Develops graphics and print materials based on templates for college promotional materials (i.e. newsletters, flyers, brochures, banners, branded merchandise). This position requires use of Adobe Creative Cloud programs such as Photoshop and InDesign to edit existing templates, and advanced skills for occasional PowerPoint design.
- Manage, track, and improve the college’s LinkedIn, YouTube, and other professional social media accounts.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Minimum Requirements
This position requires a bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or similar fields and at least two years of related work experience in public relations, communications, or marketing roles. Appropriate graduate coursework may substitute at an equivalent rate for the required experience
Degree Equivalency Clause: Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree.
• Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1310) is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.
• SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements
• A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed:
• (a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
• (b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree;
• (c) Six years of direct experience for a master’s degree;
• (d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or
• (e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree
• Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the advertised description of the position of employment.
• Minimum Qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.
Preferred Requirements
Preferred Qualifications: At least three years of experience in higher ed and/or directly related industries is preferred. Strong demonstrated writing and editing skills, particularly for newsletters, website, news releases, and experience translating (sometimes technical) academic research into stories with mainstream appeal is also preferred.
Writing samples will be required to demonstrate the ability to write for audience (samples of web content, news releases, or feature stories preferred). Knowledge of current Web and Creative Cloud tools is required, as is proficiency in Microsoft Office programs. The ability to work collaboratively in a team environment is essential.
Company
Working at USF
With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF‘s rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state’s 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.
About USF
The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.
Compliance and Federal Notices
This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.
Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws:
The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. This job description does not constitute an employment contract.